anything but Dodger. The reality started to intrude on their cocoon. Closing her eyes, she slowly smoothed her hands up his torso, savoring the damp texture of his skin and the denseness of the underlying muscle.
Dodger inhaled deeply, then eased some of his weight onto his forearms, the small shift rocking his pelvis against hers. The movement sent aftershocks of sensation shooting through her, and she clutched him, wanting to absorb him into her skin. She locked her legs around his thighs, and he settled his weight onto her again, complying with her silent request. He remained motionless for a moment, then bracing his weight on his arms, he cradled her head in both hands, his mouth covering hers with a lingering kiss. There was such raw tenderness in that kiss her heart caught. She opened her mouth for him, and he tightened his hold on her face, his mouth soft and searching as he deepened the kiss. He drank from her mouth, his gentleness moving her beyond words.
He stroked his thumbs along her jaw, then with an uneven sigh, he reluctantly lifted his head. Trying to will away the emotion that clogged her throat, Anna touched his face. “You are wonderful.”
He pressed his thumb across her mouth and whispered, “A compliment. Wait, I have to record this in my diary.”
She gazed up at him, digging in his ribs and he laughed. “Well, at least in bed.”
“Ha, there’s the cheek. I knew you had it in you.”
A look of deep disquiet darkened his eyes, a somber, distracted frown appearing. He again smoothed back her hair, then met her gaze.
“I wish this…what we’re sharing…didn’t have to end,” she whispered.
He winced slightly, as if her words had touched something raw inside him and nodded. Afraid to spoil what they had just shared, she let her words on their relationship remain unsaid.
He held her gaze for a moment, then lowered his head and kissed her, but in spite of the tenderness of that caress, she sensed something dark and troubling in him. Cupping his cheek, she drew away from him.
“Want to talk about it?”
He held her gaze for a moment, the disquiet in his eyes deepening, then looked away, his expression taut. “I think we’re both getting in deep here. We’re going to be able to keep this in perspective, right?”
“Of course. I don’t go back on my word, Dodger.” Her tone was gentle. “Unless something changes and we talk about it, I’m expecting the status quo.”
He rubbed his thumb against her cheek, then looked at her, his eyes bleak. “Yeah, the status quo,” he said gruffly. “We’re in agreement.”
Fighting the sting of tears, she caressed his face with unsteady fingers. “Yes. We are.”
He stared down at her, strain deepening around the corners of his eyes. “Anna, I—”
She pressed her fingers against his mouth to silence him. “Don’t, Dodger. It’s all right for now. We both knew what we were getting into.” Sliding her hand along his jaw, she lifted her head and kissed him. He resisted for a moment, then slid his arms around her and took control.
Deciding that changing the subject was a good move, she said, “It doesn’t say who was the mastermind of this whole five-pronged plot?”
“No, it’s just signed MAS. You think someone else came up with this?” Dodger said. So sensitized, she felt almost raw and made a soft sound as he rolled to the mattress, then gathered her against him.
“I don’t know. It seems very organized for his type of terrorism group. It’s not that they don’t think big, but this is more of a psychological attack to me instead of the mass murder rhetoric Angar Said has always spewed. I hate to think someone on our side has devised this.”
“To what end?”
“Could be many things, but money comes to mind or perhaps revenge,” Anna said.
“One thing is for sure. Darko Stjepanić is colluding with Angar Said and employing his vast network of people.”
“But Angar Said will use his own people. Of that I’m sure. The Czech crime boss may be doing the handling, but the sacrifices will come from Angar Said’s camp.” Anna sighed. “He may also be providing the explosives.” Her gut churned at the possible loss of life and ruin they were planning. “Darko is one of those men who believes he’s above the law and can do as he wishes. He’s taken out whole networks, Dodger. He’s capable of a lot of death and destruction.”